Her eyes were focused, fierce, and filled with a determination Zane didn't like in the least. He had hoped that after everything she had been through, she would be too frightened to stand up against him. But seeing her now, her gaze locked onto his, it was clear that she had no intention of backing down. This wasn't the fragile Maeve he had expected to see—this was someone willing to fight for her survival.
Zane gritted his teeth, suppressing the urge to curse under his breath. He hadn't expected this confrontation, especially not so soon after the botched assassination. The council members standing before him were men with close ties to his father, men who Zane had counted on to remain loyal to him. But now, with Joe whispering in their ears, it seemed that even they were starting to waver.
